ISWI Chapter 307-308

Chapter 307: A Pure Fellow Daoist Relationship!

An Miaoli's ethereal eyes narrowed slightly. "My interactions with Ye Chen have always been for your sake. Our relationship is purely that of fellow Daoists, with no ulterior motives. How could I possibly become his Dao partner?"

An Yuyi clung to her aunt's arm, swaying it. "Aunt, that's not what I meant. When I was rescued, I rode in Senior Brother's war chariot. It was so cool, like sitting in the sun—blazing, warm, and incredibly comfortable. I lingered on purpose, but he remained unmoved and even rejected me. I've always known Senior Brother likes you. Though his attitude toward me has softened, he still can't let go of you, which is why he didn't respond to my advances. If he became my Dao partner, how could he face you afterward?"

An Miaoli understood. Indeed, if Ye Chen paired with An Yuyi, approaching her would become impossible. She'd never compete with her niece for a man—her heart wouldn't allow it.

As An Miaoli pondered, An Yuyi continued. "But if you and Senior Brother became Dao partners, it'd be different. He'd have no reservations, and if I took the initiative, I could get what I want. Or you could invite me to join. Then we'd never be apart, living together forever. Isn't that the best outcome? Besides, Aunt, you don't truly feel nothing for Senior Brother, do you?"

An Yuyi's big eyes fixed on her aunt. An Miaoli's lashes fluttered, and she averted her gaze, unwilling to meet her niece's stare. The logic was flawed, but that final question left the usually free-spirited An Miaoli speechless.

"With a great battle looming, I need to stabilize my realm and study my techniques. We'll discuss this later." An Miaoli evaded the topic and drifted away.

An Yuyi watched her aunt's hasty retreat, a sly smile crossing her cute face. She called out, "A while back, the Ancestor invited Senior Brother to stay, but he declined, saying he'd go to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land after reaching Nascent Soul. The Ancestor said outsiders have no chance there, but I disagree. Senior Brother's so amazing—even Holy Land Holy Sons or elders would be smitten. With his small world, immense wealth, and generosity, he'll thrive. If he really leaves, we'll lose our chance!"

An Yuyi had long noticed her aunt's feelings for Ye Chen. It was understandable. Ye Chen was handsome, powerful, talented, and unimaginably wealthy, with a small world containing thirty-six floating peaks, the Star Pool, and Soul-Swaying Mountain. What female cultivator wouldn't be charmed?

These past few days, An Yuyi occasionally dreamed of Ye Chen swooping in to save her, her heart racing with excitement. It was no surprise her aunt was smitten. But An Miaoli, likely out of concern for her niece, had never taken a step forward. In this case, An Yuyi felt she had to push her aunt to seize the opportunity. Only if An Miaoli secured Ye Chen would it be her turn.

Hearing that Ye Chen planned to head to Heavenly Evolution Holy Land after reaching Nascent Soul, An Miaoli's slender figure paused briefly. She said nothing and quickly departed. Back in her cave abode, she let out a long sigh. Deep down, she'd always known Ye Chen would leave—his talent was far too great for Divine Will Sect to contain. Yet, the confirmation stirred a sense of loss.

Her niece's words echoed in her mind. Though absurd, they weren't entirely illogical. An Miaoli didn't care much for herself, but An Yuyi had been eagerly hoping for so long. If Ye Chen went to the Holy Land, even seeing him again would be difficult. How could she let An Yuyi spend her life pining?

Should she, for An Yuyi's sake, take a step closer to Ye Chen?

But soon, An Miaoli gave a bitter smile. With the Heavenly Nether Sect's looming threat, survival was uncertain. The priority now was cultivation. The immortal scripture was formidable—if she could deepen her comprehension, her combat power would surge, perhaps offering a chance to turn the tide.

She entered deep cultivation, a divine furnace phantom hovering above her head, casting rays of sacred light. Bathed in its glow, An Miaoli looked ever more like a goddess descended to the mortal realm.

...

The arrival of a Heavenly Nether Sect powerhouse sent shockwaves through Divine Will Sect. Despite their three Nascent Soul cultivators teaming up, they were soundly defeated and fled in disarray.

Rumors spread that among the trio, only the Magic Peak Master was truly weak. The Divine Will Ancestor's poor performance was attributed to lingering injuries from slaying a mid-Nascent Soul enemy, while An Miaoli, newly broken through, displayed mid-Nascent Soul strength, which was remarkable.

Yet, the outside world held no faith in Divine Will Sect's survival. Heavenly Nether Sect had a Deity Transformation cultivator, after all. Heavenly Evolution Pavilion's abrupt closure and evacuation from Divine Will City further signaled imminent danger.

Holy Lands always had the best intelligence, and Heavenly Evolution Holy Land never erred in warning its members of impending conflicts, often urging them to take precautions or flee. Their departure confirmed that Tian Mingzi, the Deity Transformation Sect Master, was likely coming himself.

Panic ensued. Divine Will City, once bustling, emptied as cultivators fled. Smaller factions, previously loyal to Divine Will Sect, grew bold, seizing the sect's external resource points. Rogue cultivators proliferated, and chaos engulfed the sect's territory, with order collapsing and countless cultivators dying daily. It seemed Divine Will Sect was truly doomed.

Amid the external turmoil and betrayal, Divine Will Sect remained silent, recalling all disciples and elders, sealing the mountain gate array, and adopting an eerie stillness.

Three months later, an enormous skyship, vast enough to blot out the sun, descended slowly from the sea of clouds. A massive flag emblazoned with a terrifying nether beast—the emblem of Heavenly Nether Sect—fluttered atop it, striking fear into onlookers.

More shocking still, dozens of smaller skyships followed, each bearing distinct emblems. Other sect powerhouses, jaws dropping, realized Heavenly Nether Sect had rallied its vassal sects' forces. They intended to leave Divine Will Sect utterly annihilated.

Given Heavenly Nether Sect's ruthless reputation, onlookers lamented in their hearts: the eight-thousand-year legacy of Divine Will Sect was finished.

Chapter 308: The Power of Primordial Chaos!

Heavenly Nether Sect had arrived, accompanied by the powerhouses of their vassal sects. The sight of countless skyships and the figures of formidable cultivators aboard them exuded overwhelming pressure.

Yet, the most striking presence was aboard Heavenly Nether Sect's flagship. A black-robed figure, tall and imposing, stood calmly at the prow, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the Divine Will Sect. His eyes were fathomless, as if linked to the netherworld, so deep that a mere glance felt like it could snatch one's soul. The aura radiating from him was terrifying, causing even Nascent Soul cultivators to pale.

Though he hadn't spoken, his identity was unmistakable: Tian Mingzi, the Sect Master of Heavenly Nether Sect, had come in person. Unlike other sects, Heavenly Nether Sect had no retired ancestor—Tian Mingzi, their strongest, held absolute power without ever stepping back.

His gaze, sharp as lightning, scanned the surroundings, and the watching powerhouses from afar hurriedly bowed, retreating further. The might of a Deity Transformation cultivator was undeniable.

"Break the array. Slaughter them all."

Tian Mingzi's first words upon arrival echoed like a voice from the underworld, chilling everyone to the bone. Surprisingly, he didn't act himself. Instead, he sat cross-legged to cultivate, as boundless black nether qi surged around him, seemingly drawn from the netherworld itself. The qi morphed into various divine beasts, circling him, making him resemble an ancient nether emperor, inspiring even greater awe.

From Heavenly Nether Sect's flagship and the other skyships, powerhouses emerged, wielding various spiritual treasures to assault Divine Will Sect's mountain gate.

Onlookers were stunned—ten Nascent Soul cultivators, mostly early-stage but including one late-stage, formed a force capable of annihilating most sects in the cultivation world. Tian Mingzi's presence wasn't even necessary; Divine Will Sect stood no chance.

Under the shocked gazes of the spectators, a barrage of sea-like, world-shattering spells from these Nascent Souls slammed into the mountain gate. Yet, the array flared with radiant light, rippling like water, effortlessly deflecting the onslaught.

No one was surprised. Every sect prioritized its gate array—otherwise, any random powerhouse could wipe them out, making them a laughingstock. With an eight-thousand-year legacy, Divine Will Sect wouldn't make such a blunder. But no matter how strong the array, it would eventually fall under such relentless bombardment.

Some onlookers were puzzled, wondering why Tian Mingzi didn't attack himself. With his Deity Transformation prowess, he could break the array faster. Some speculated he disdained targeting mere early-Nascent Soul cultivators, deeming Divine Will Sect unworthy of his personal intervention if not for his son's death.
Others sensed deeper motives. Given Tian Mingzi's ruthless history—once celebrating his Nascent Soul breakthrough by annihilating a Golden Core sect for fun—disdain for weaker foes seemed unlikely.

A Deity Transformation cultivator's actions had their own logic, and no one dared question him. The heavens resounded only with the ceaseless rumble of the array's bombardment.

...

Beneath the protection of the mountain gate array, Divine Will Sect was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere. The sight of Tian Mingzi cultivating atop the skyship struck terror into their hearts. His intent was clear: no one would be spared.

"Tian Mingzi not attacking himself is a small mercy," an elder said, trying to lighten the mood. "If we hold out longer, something might happen at Heavenly Nether Sect, forcing him to leave."

But the Divine Will Ancestor's expression was grave. "I'd rather he attacked personally."

He wasn't joking. Divine Will Sect's gate array, a fifth-grade Nine Palaces Primordial Array, boasted formidable defenses. Its key feature was the ability to channel nearly all its power into a single, devastating strike of Primordial Chaos Force. Timed well, it could severely wound or even kill a Deity Transformation cultivator. However, unleashing this force would leave the array vulnerable, on the brink of collapse.

It was evident Tian Mingzi recognized the array's nature. By staying back and letting his Nascent Soul cultivators grind it down, he put Divine Will Sect in a true dilemma. If Tian Mingzi didn't approach, the Primordial Chaos Force, even if it killed a late-Nascent Soul cultivator, would be wasted. Yet waiting would let the array be worn down until it collapsed, leaving no chance to strike. Either way, it was a death sentence.

Glaring at the Nascent Soul powerhouses bombarding the array, the Ancestor's face grew darker. Nascent Soul cultivators recovered spiritual qi swiftly and, drawing on ambient spiritual energy, expended little while unleashing devastating attacks. Ten Nascent Soul cultivators, including one late-stage and two mid-stage, were overwhelming. The array might not last twenty days under such pressure.

"Has Ye Chen not emerged yet?" the Ancestor asked An Miaoli, hopeful. He knew Ye Chen's strength—if he broke through to Nascent Soul, he could fight late-Nascent Soul cultivators. Paired with An Miaoli, they might kill a few attackers, forcing the others to hesitate and slowing the assault. An anxious Tian Mingzi might then act personally, giving them a shot at the Primordial Chaos Force.

Regrettably, Ye Chen's cave abode remained silent.

An Miaoli spoke calmly. "Ye Chen hasn't emerged, but I can act. As an early-Nascent Soul, I'm confident in slaying those of the same stage."

Her words, delivered flatly, stunned the room. Only half a year since her breakthrough, yet she claimed she could casually kill peers? Defeating same-realm cultivators might be feasible, but killing them was far harder—high-realm cultivators were talented, with myriad techniques and escape methods.

The Ancestor, however, trusted her. "Fine, but don't linger in battle. Old Liu and I will join you to pin down the enemy."

An Miaoli shook her head. "I've refined Wind-Thunder Wings, granting me great speed. I'll move more freely alone."

The Ancestor's mouth twitched, his eyes narrowing. Her words were polite, but it felt like she was calling him a burden. Fine, dismiss Old Liu—he's genuinely weak, no argument there. But me? Do you know the saying, 'Old ginger is spicier'? Disrespectful!

"Old Liu's not fully recovered, so he can stay in the array to cover us," he declared. "I'm going with you."

Unable to bear the slight, the Ancestor insisted on joining to prove himself. Everyone would see: the Divine Will Ancestor was not to be underestimated.

...